For the past 20 years, I have been living with endometriosis — a chronic and often debilitating disease that has shaped almost every aspect of my life. For far too long, my pain was dismissed or misunderstood. I was told I had IBS, GERD, or “bad periods,” even after multiple emergency room visits because the pain was unbearable.  

Every day I battle severe cramping, chronic nausea, and extreme fatigue that leave me physically and mentally drained. There have been days when I couldn’t work, missed important life events, and lost precious time with the people I love — all because my pain was too intense to ignore. There have been nights I cried alone, frustrated and exhausted from unanswered questions and relentless suffering.

I’ve tried every treatment that was offered: medications, contraceptives, physical therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture — you name it. And last April, I underwent laparoscopic ablation surgery at the recommendation of my gynecologist, hoping for relief. The outcome was disheartening: the pain came back within a few months.

When symptoms returned, I began researching and learned that excision surgery is widely recognized as the gold standard for treating endometriosis — the most effective way to remove disease rather than just burn it away. Excision requires specialized training and expertise, and there are very few surgeons who do it well — especially here in New England.  

I was fortunate enough to be referred to a specialist in Maine — one of only a couple in all of New England who focuses on excision surgery. Unfortunately, like the other top specialists in the region, this provider does not accept insurance, which means patients must pay out of pocket for surgery.  

I have been paying medical bills my entire adult life. I’ve never asked for help before, even as I worked through pain every single day. But I can’t do this alone anymore. I am tired — physically, emotionally, mentally. When pain medications don’t even touch the pain, your body doesn’t just ache — it wears you down.

I’m asking for help so I can have a real chance at relief. Excision surgery could change my life — but I cannot afford the large down payment required to schedule it. Your support — whether through donating, sharing my story, or simply lifting me up in thought — means more than I can express.

Thank you for helping me take a step toward healing.